I've Lived In Kano For 25 Years, But Today, I Am Aftraid...So, I 've To Move My Family Home

2012-01-29
THE GUARDIAN Newspaper

IN droves, they besieged motor parks in the ancient city that has been under siege of gunmen in the past few days. The intended journey was not one of the numerous routine trips they had always done, to and from the city in times past.

The heavy luggage, and other properties they decidedly carried along told the story: it was a journey of no return, a journey of survival.

This is the fate of many residents of the ancient city of Kano, who are now exiting in large numbers due to the insecurity and the climate of fear precipitated by the multiple blasts, and sporadic shootings that have engulfed the city recently as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ironically, many of those fleeing the city have lived there for decades; some were even born there, and had known Kano as their only home until now. Many confess that run they must as the security situation deteriorates with Boko Haram engaging members of the security forces in gun battles, and the possibility of bombs going off still very real.

Mr. Romanus Obiwuru, from Mkpo, Nnewi-South Local Government Area of Anambra State, who is a dealer in electrical parts in the Sabongari area of Kano, said:

“I have lived in this Kano for 25 years now, but today, I am afraid more than ever before because we do not know what will happen any moment now.

We are all afraid. My people at home keep calling to tell come back home with my family. So, I have no choice but to move my family home and wait for a while and see how everything ends.” he said.

While Obiwuru still hopes, and prays that everything returns to normal so that he can return to continue his spare parts business, there are others who are fleeing the city for good. Mrs. Edith Okwolisa who is from Ihiala in Anambra State, said her family had no other option but to flee Kano for good.

“As you can see, the situation is so tensed that no one knows what will happen next. I and my husband are moving with all our families and property. The problem is still going on and we do not have the intention of returning to Kano again. We are not coming back,” she said with a note of finality.

Meanwhile, leaders of the southeast rose from an all-inclusive meeting in Enugu, yesterday to condemn what they described as the deliberate destruction of property and continuous killing of their kinsmen in the northern parts of the country by the Boko Haram sect.

At the meeting convoked by the southeast governors, at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, under the aegis of the Southeast leaders Forum, the leaders expressed anger over the spate of killings going on in the country, even as they expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Federal Government in containing the situation.

At yet another meeting, held at the residence of late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) led by its leader, Ralph Uwazurike, resolved to set up relief camp for returnee kinsmen displaced by the violent attacks in the North.

However, the new Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar has promised to fight every facet of crime ravaging the country, including the Boko Haram insurgency. Speaking at the Police Force Headquarters last week, Abubakar said: I have said we shall fight crime in all its ramification. This includes crime and all acts of criminality, whatever name you give it whether Boko Haram, or armed robbery. We shall fight them all,”he said.